Humidifier for gas-engines.



R. B. BENJAMIN. HUMIDIFIER FOR cAs memes. APPLIC AT'TBN FILED "JAN- 26| l9l5\ Patented Oct. 8, 191a z SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

\ mmmm.mcuumou mum-unn c v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A SS IGNOR T BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HUMIDIFIER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8. 1918.

Application filed January 26. 1815. Serial No. 4.500.

-provements in Humidifiers for GasEngines,

of-which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a gas engines.

part of this specification.

My invention relates: to humidifiers for In internal combustion engines it has been found that the combustion is improved if moisture, in some form, is supplied to the combustion chamber. This supply of "moisture also lessens the deposit of carbon and enables a lower grade of fuel to be used.

Among theiobjects of my invention are to prov'de an improved device of the character indicated which shall be simple of construction and manufacture and efficient in operation a'nd which can easily be applied to existing engines.

" Further objects will appear from the de tailed description to follow and from-the apnded claims.

In the drawings. in which I have illustrated one embodiment. of my invention" Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front part of an automobile. showing the engine radiator, carbureter, dash and'part of the cooling system; r v

'Fig. 2 is a. section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the humidifier 'is'secured to the connection which forms part'of the cooling system. and

, showing the valve for regulating the supply of moisture. and showing also the vaporizing chamber and the pipe leading therefrom to the carbureter; v

3 is a section on ;the line 33 of Fig.

i 2, and

. reference character view of the humidifier, away to show the pipe and the screen Fig. 4 is a plan parts being broken leading to the carbureter above the moisture inlet. I

Referring now to the drawing in'deta l 10 indicates the hood of a the automobile in which is located thefngine ter which is provided 11. Reference character 12 indicates the radiator: 13 the dash. and 14 the c'prburewith any suitable controlling valve mechanism 14 for controlling fuel between the carburetor and the engine. Reference, character 15 indicates a manifold forming a part of the coolthe flexible tube 18.

ing system from which conduits lo lead to the water jackets of the various cvlinders of the engine 11. 17 indicates a nipple \vhlch is in communication with the interior of the radiator 12. 18 indicates a flexible tubular member connecting the manifold 15 and nipple 17 to permit the cooling water to flow therebetween. The tubular member 18 is provided in its upper side with an opening 19 through which communication is afforded with the humidifier indicated in general by 20. The humidifier comprises a vaporizing chamber 21. a tubular moisture inlet- 22 provided with a butter-fly valve 23 for regulating the supply of moisture. and a tubular member 24 extending upwardly through the bottom of the vaporizing chamber 21and affording communicationbetween said vaporizing chamber and thecarburet'er. The vaporizing. chamber comprises a dished portion 25 which may be of sheet metal. and a bottom portion 26 which may be secl'u'ed in any suitable manner to the moisture inlet 22. The upper wall of the dished portion 25 is provided with a number of small openings 27 to afford an inlet for the air to the tubular member 24 which is in communication with the carbureter. A screen 28 is placed above the moisture inlet 22 to prevent the water in the tubular member 18 from splashing up into the vaporizing chamber.

The lower end of the moisture inlet 22 is provided with a saddle portion 29 which en gages the tubular member 18 and is provided with a pair of ears 30 through which extend screws 31 for engagement with the cars 32 of a clamping band33 whereby the device may be firmly secured in itsproper place on The butter-fly valve 23 is secured on a rock shaft 34 mounted in the walls of the inlet 22. and extending rearwardly through the dash 13.. A turn button 35 is securedto the end of the shaft 34, by means of a set screw 36 and is provided with a flange 37 held beneath a flanged member 38 whereby the turn ter is forced through the manifold 15,'t.ube

18 and nipple 17 by moms of any suitable button is rotatably mounted on the dash 13 ofthe automoblle. An indicator may be provided to show the no i pump not shown). At the same time the suction of the engine causes air to be drawn in. to the carbureter through the openings 27, tubular member 24, and conduit L0; the air, in passing through the vaporizing chamber 21,-becoming more or less saturated with moisture which is supplied from the cooling system through the opening 19, moisture inlet 22, past the valve 23 and through the screen 28. As previously stated, the amount of moisture supplied to the carbureter is regulated by means of the butterfiyvalve 23 which may be opened more or less by means of the turn button 35. Since the moisture is supplied to the fuel before it passes the fuel-controlling valve 14, this fuel-controlling valve mechanism also has a controlling influence on the amount of moisture supplied.

It will be noted that the construction of the device is such that it can readily be ap pliedto existing types of automobiles. The purpose of extending the tubular member 24 some distance upward into the vaporizing chamber 21 is to prevent any water which might find its way into the vaporizin chamber 21 from overflowing into the conduit 40 leading to the carbureter.

. In the claims the word moisture is to be understood as including water in the form of vapor, steamor spray.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with an automobile having a dash, an internal combustion engine having a Water cooling system including a radiator andaconduit leading from the engine to the radiator, of a humidifier secured to said conduit, a rotary valve controlling communication between said conduit andhumidifier, and a rock shaft in alinement with the axis of said valve for operating it extending rearwardly through the dash.

2. The combination with an automobile having a dash, an internal combustion enine having a Water cooling systemfincludmg a radiator and a. conduit leading from the engine to the radiator,"of a humidifier sec ured to said conduit, a rotary valve controlling I communication between said conduit and humidifier, a rock shaft in 21 ment with the axis of said valve for operating it extending rearwardly through the dash, and an indicator turning with said shaft.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a water cooling system, including a radiator and a flexible conduit leading from the en ine to the radiator, of a humidifier detacha ly secured to said conduit.

4. The combination with an automobile having an internal combustion engine having a water cooling system including a radiatorQand' a flexible substantially horizon' tal conduit leadin from the engine to the radiator, said con uit having an. opening in its upper side, of a humidifier comprising a vaporizing chamber secured to said conduit having a moisture inlet in communication with said opening.

5. The com-bmation with an automobile having an internal combustion'engine having a Water cooling system including a radiator, and a flexible substantially horizon tal conduit leading from the engine to the radiator, said conduit. having an opening in its upper side, of a humidifier comprising a vaporizing chamber secured to said conduit having a moisture inlet in its lower wall in communication with said opening, and an air 'nlet above said moisture inlet, and an out e'thaving its orifice a substantial distance above said moisture inlet.

6. The combination with an automobile having an internal combustion enginehaving a carbureter and a Water cooling system including a radiator, and a flexible substantially horizontal conduit leading from the engine to the radiator, said conduit having an opening in its upper side, of. a humidi-fier comprising a vaporizing chamber secured to said conduit having a moisture inlet in communication with said opening,

REUBEN B. ENJAMIN, Witnesses:

MARGARET THIELEN, ANNE SOLOMON. 

